Poll: Your Level of Excitement

I know, I know, it’s been three games. Three games are rather meaningless over the span of 162, but they were three damn good games. It’s why I ask this question: What is your level of excitement after the first weekend of games. How high (or low) are you right now?

Many people are elated with how things have gone thus far, and it appears the good times could keep on rolling. But if you recall, the 2010 season started much the same. The team was blistering and his a cold streak that they were unable to snap for several months.

To me, when the Phillies win, the world is just a better place in which to live. And when they sweep, I want to ride around my neighborhood in my car and honking my horn —beep, beep, beep. But when they lose, I feel like kicking the dog and hitting the booze. So, let’s see another sweep.

I’m with you guys this is a really great start for the team. The pitching and the hitting is everything we were dreaming of in December. I’m already annoyed we have an off day before the next game.

I don’t know how anyone could be still feeling pessimistic after an opening day walk off and 3 dominating performances from our starters. I have faith that if (and right now that looks like a BIG if) the Phillies need help with the offense, Ruben’s gonna get it done. He’s not gonna fall asleep at the wheel after everything the team has done. He’s gotten us Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee twice! Does anybody think he can’t make a deal for Michael Young if he wants?

I am gonna be chomping at the bit for the next game I want to see the Phillies sweep the Mets right to the bottom of the division. Let’s go 6-0!

I’m happy with how the hitting has been much better..the pitching has been pretty good..but I want to see our pitchers last a little longer..If we can get consistent 7 or 8 innings from the pitchers we should be fine.

I think Cholly’s just being careful with their pitch counts to start Jimmy. Don’t want to burn out the arms early especially with 5 run leads. Also if it wasn’t for two bad plays Halladay goes 7 for sure.

First, I’m completely fired up that it is spring. Doesn’t matter if Bruce Ruffin or Omar Daal is the opening day starter, always optimistic. The pitching did what I thought it would (Oswalt a little better, always surprised when Halladay gives up a run), and I’m very happy the approach the O took from the 9th inning of the opener on – a little small ball, make the Stros throw strikes, jump on the mistakes.

I thought the d looked good, and while I don’t expect Ben Fran to hit 0.570 with 215 rbis, he showed he belongs. It’s pointless to crown a WFC on Sept 30th, let alone April 1st, but we have the look of a playoff team.

Other fun things from the weekend – it looks like the AL may have to play out the season after all. The Red Sox rotation had a rough start, glad to see 45 sports pundits sweat a bit (although still think they are a playoff team, I don’t like their starters after Lester and Buckholz, and don’t really like Buckholz that much). And while the Rangers can make any staff look bad, Hughes had absolutely nothing. Maybe the end of last year was something more than a tired arm? Wouldn’t it be great for baseball to see KC and the Pirates be competitive all season?

Glad I saw Dodger Stadium in 1990. A beautiful stadium, but I have no plans in going back. I’ve been to most of the East Coast stadiums, as well as Stl and Detroit, never had more than friendly ribbing. I’d prefer to get puked on than put into a coma (that’s just me, though).

Remember last year the first month they came out the gates like lightning. They where hitting the ball everywhere an scoring a bunch of runs for the first month. Then they couldnt hit anything it seem to the all-star break. Remember the pictures are still getting adjusted an wont start to settle in after they had a few games/innings in them.

The only obvious drop off so far from what we had last year is Francisco’s coverage in right will not be matching what we had in Werth.This should not come as a surprise to any one.However, when Mayberry is out there , the dropoff in defense may not be so bad. If Mayberry started clicking on offense?

Waaay to early!
Nice wins all of them, nice to put the dregs of the NL in their place instead of getting swept by them in August. Nice to dream that instead of playing .500 ball against these teams, we chew them up and play good ball like we have in the past, against the tough teams – that would be my dream come true. Speaking of dregs – here come the Muts and I’m pretty stoked about tomorrow’s game with Hamels pitching.

So far, the pitching has looked every bit as good as we were hoping, the batting has looked better than I expected the fielding – eh – in time!

This COULD one of the best April’s in recent Phillies history. Already at 3-0 vs our own division, we play the next 12 games vs the East with the Mess coming up at home, then away for 3 vs the Braves & 3 vs the Nats. Back home for 3 vs the stinkin Fish – and we close the month with 2 home games vs the Mess –
Mess (5 home games) 4-1
Fish (3 home games) 2-1
Nats (3 away games) 2-1
Braves (3 away games) 1-2 (go easy on me!)
With the Brewers (H) 2-1
SD (A 4) 2-2
D’Backs (A 3) 2-1
That’s a lot of wins – 18 by my estimate. When was the last time the Phils played this many games in April and won say more than 16?
Truthfully, any total 16 and above would be making a statement, especially if we can continue to trounce our own division.
16-11 April – I’m good.
18-9 April – I’m elated.
Any thoughts?

This is a deeply flawed team that had the luck of playing arguably the most deeply flawed team in all of baseball. The starting pitching is dominant, as expected, but is also old and could easily be sidelined by injury. Howard is mashing, Rollins is looking good and Ruiz is as good as ever, but the rest of the lineup is still a question mark. The bullpen is an unmitigated disaster. The defense, especially in the outfield, is atrocious.

Was waiting for Mr negative to show up. Flawed maybe deeply flawed no way, Ben had a few missteps and I do not like making excuses but the wind was really howling on that dropped fly ball, and he made a nice play a little later. Is he Jayson Wreth defensivly not really, but he is not terrible. And he showed he can hit, with people on ;base in front of him. How many RBIs did Wreth have last year with runners in scoring position. The Pen is a work in progress and Charlie is figuring out what to do with it and getting everyone involved to see how they are working. It is all about hits when you need them, like I said about Valdez last year, if he can hit with guys on after the 6th inning I do not care that he goes 0fer until then. As long as the .250 hitters hit when we need them who cares about there average. Look how the RBIs were spread out 1-8 all weekend. Be happy and enjoy for a chnaage.

While this team certainly has it’s share of flaws, to say “deeply flawed” is pretty out there. I’d say the Pirates are deeply flawed or the Indians are deeply flawed. But to say a team with 4 ace pitchers, an OK bullpen, and an offense that is an unknown at this point, is something to be overly concerned about, is just nuts.

I dont blame you for wanting to spice up the comment section, and maybe you truly feel that way, but a team that should fart 90 wins doesn’t have deep concerns.

“my name is Publius, and I don’t like fun…. now stand over here so I can dump a bucket of water on ya.” Publius 4/4/11

Come on dude lighten up. Live the dream! We’re 3-0. I wouldn’t classify it as a disaster they’ve had one bad inning in 3 games little early to decide one way or the other. The outfield is nowhere near as good as last year, but i’m willing to give it a chance if Ben keeps hitting. You gotta remember dude this isn’t your father’s Phillies, The only real concern is will the offense keep going or will they have to make a trade other than that we’re solid.

Publius, really?
Deeply flawed?
Please recall waayy last August how this team lost 4 straight to the Astros – that was deeply concerning.
The team did what they needed to do, kicked the tail of a crappy team.
Next up? Yes, another crappy team – lets have at it.
Last year as well as 2009, the team pitching was terrible for most of the first half. This year the only weak links I can see on the staff are some leftovers from last year, Baez and Herndon – and I would hope that Cholly has a very short leash –

At the old PN web site, there was one frequent visitor, crier if you will who seemed to have a similar attitude yet different in the fact that his immaturity could not be overlooked. His name was Jeff – always negative but sometimes very loud and sometimes aggressive.

No, I’m not going to get up there the first time until 4/30. I’m meeting my brother the Muts fan. I told him I can’t protect him! Anyway it was a while ago and someone else asked me to send it. I’ll send another.

3 major differences between Jeff and Publius:
– Between the grammar and bad spelling, it usually took me 2 or 3 re-reads to figure out Jeff’s general point. Publius clearly communicates his points.
– Jeff was total emotion, rarely had any data to support his opinions. Publius selectively utilizes stats to support his view. There is no documented evidence that Pub is capable of emotion.
– Jeff actually liked the Phils, hoped for the best, but always expected to be disappointed. I think Pub would prefer to have the Phils fail to prove his point.

The Mets and Nats, who have no starting pitching, are deeply flawed. The Marlins, who have no bullpen, startign pitchign which falls off quickly after Johnson, bad defense, a lot of youth without strong leadership, are deeply flawed. The Astros, who have a closer that throws batting practice (tops out in the high 80s with absolutely no movement), and very little talent are deeply deeply flawed. The Braves have a lot of question marks (a bad infield defense with pitching that pitches to contact, expecting a lot from very young players) have some issues, as do the Phils (limited power after Howard, not a lot of depth, age), but to state they are deeply flawed indicates a lack of objective analysis on the competition. We’re not playing the 27 Yankees for the next 159 games.

I think you have to be excited that the Phillies managed to win 3 games that they should have won… we’d all be happy with a 2-1 series win.. but the sweep makes it all the more exciting

This isn’t the greatest team ever assembled… I have concerns about our lineup just as much as the next guy, but that said … I think we currently have a better team than 2008 …better than 2009 …and we’ll see about 2010 – our best team ever- and also the one that failed to reach the World Series

we dont need to worry about AL teams.. we’ll only have one to worry about, it we’re lucky enough to make it that far .. and none of the NL teams are all that scary … Giants have great pitching, terrible defense, and a worse offense than we do … Braves have documented question marks .. Rockies have “talent” in the rotation, a great lineup – but superstars who have health concerns, and i don’t think their pitching staff will cover offensive flaws like ours will … The Brewers seemingly have pitching depth and a great offense – but an unproven bullpen – a closer that came from nowhere last year and has struggled since camp opened this yea … the team that scares me the most is the Reds…but that all depends on how healthy they are too – they’ve got great young talent that has started to win TOGETHER .. i said it last year that they then reminded me of the 2007 Phillies- happy to just be in the playoffs and would cause major damage the following season